Editor, Times-Union:

Do you recognize these terms and how they are being used — or misused?

Woke: Being aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues especially of racial and social injustice; open-minded

Liberalism: A political and moral philosophy based on the rights of the individual, liberty, consent of the governed, political equality and equality before the law

Conservatism: Political belief that supports emphasis on traditions, relies on the individual to maintain society, and opposes change or innovation

Socialism: A social and economic doctrine that calls for public rather than private ownership or control of property and natural resources

Communism: A system in which individual people do not own land, factories, or machinery; the government or whole community owns these things and everyone shares the wealth that they create

Democracy: A system of government by the whole population … typically through elected representatives

Autocracy: A system of government by one person with absolute power

Fascism: A way of organizing a society in which a government ruled by a dictator controls the lives of the people and in which people are not allowed to disagree with the government

Antifa: Simply put — against fascism; against racism

Racism: A belief that certain races of people are by birth and nature superior to others; hatred of or discrimination against a person or persons based on their race

Critical Race Theory: Anyone reading this is hereby challenged to research the definition, history and use of this subject and then 1. attest to your own understanding of that research, and 2. prove with examples how this college level law school subject is being taught to school children K-12. I dare you.

Cancel Culture: The mass withdrawal of support from public figures or celebrities who have done things that are not socially accepted today

Gaslighting: Manipulating (someone) using psychological methods into questioning their own sanity or powers of reasoning; attempting to sow self-doubt and confusion in victims’ minds by distorting reality in order to gain power and control over them

Indoctrination: To teach (someone) to fully accept the ideas, opinions, and beliefs of a particular group and to not consider other ideas, opinions, and beliefs

Groom: To build a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them

Know what you are talking about and fighting for. Knowledge and truth are powerful and liberating. Misinformation and lies are destructive and dangerous.

Jeanne Schutz

Winona Lake, via email